We have recently acquired a loan from Leicestershire County Council Museum Service to display in our Furnace Gallery in the Museum. This bell is an intriguing object for us at Taylor’s Bellfoundry!

The bell was cast by John Taylor in 1840, one year after the company had relocated to Loughborough. It’s a great example of the work that naturally came to Taylor’s following the move to Pack Horse Lane, in Loughborough town centre.

The bell was used at Loughborough’s Union workhouse, built in 1838. In 1930, following the Local Government Act of 1929, the workhouse was renamed Hastings House and officially became what was known as a public assistance institution.

Workhouse bells were rung to signal activities such as meals, prayers and other events that required everyone’s attendance, coordinating life in the workhouse.